Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria has declared that the nationwide strike by workers in Federal Unity Colleges remains in full force, rejecting claims by the Federal Ministry of Education that the industrial action has been suspended. In a communiqué issued on Saturday, September 20, 2026, after an emergency virtual meeting of its zonal coordinators, the union insisted that only its recognised national leadership has the authority to call off the strike, describing the ministry's announcement as "null, void and of no consequence".
The strike, which began on September 10, 2026, affects workers in all 115 Federal Unity Colleges across the country, the Federal Ministry of Education headquarters in Abuja, the Federal Education Quality Assurance Service, and the Science Equipment Centre. The union's action was triggered by the Federal Government's proposed concession of King's College, Lagos, to a private operator under a 35-year Public-Private Partnership arrangement announced by the institution's Old Boys Association in July 2026. The ASCSN has consistently argued that the concession would set a dangerous precedent that could lead to the transfer of the remaining Unity Schools to private interests and political elites, fundamentally altering the character of Nigeria's premier public secondary education system.
The dispute escalated on September 17, 2026, when the union met with the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and agreed to a two-week review of the concession process. Following that meeting, the ministry announced that the strike had been suspended and directed teachers to resume classes. The ASCSN, however, has rejected that announcement, accusing the minister's media aide of acting unilaterally. "The attempt by the minister's media aide to unilaterally declare the suspension of the strike is null, void and of no consequence, as only the recognised leadership of the union has the authority to issue directives to members," the communiqué stated.
The union's anger is not limited to the premature suspension claim. In the communiqué, the zonal coordinators alleged that the minister had agreed to set up a broad-based committee involving all relevant stakeholders and to release documents relating to the proposed concession of King's College, Lagos. Nearly a week after that meeting, the coordinators said, neither promise had been fulfilled. "The proposed committee had not been constituted and the relevant documents had not been released for examination," they said, describing the development as a breach of the understanding reached with the minister.
The coordinators also condemned what they described as the deployment of armed police to King's College, Lagos, during the dispute. According to their account, officers forced open school gates, harassed peaceful protesters, and arrested a minor. The union described the development as "a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable abuse of state power". The coordinators further alleged that the ministry had engaged individuals they described as unauthorised persons claiming to represent ASCSN, warning that such engagements could undermine established industrial relations procedures.
The ASCSN's position is unequivocal. The strike will continue until the proposed concession is reversed. "No reversal of King's College Lagos concessioning, no resumption. The ongoing strike continues," the coordinators declared. They directed the national leadership of the union to remain firm in defending workers' rights and due process, and urged members nationwide to remain committed to the industrial action. "There should be no retreat, no compromise and no surrender," they said.
The Federal Ministry of Education has maintained that the government has no intention of selling any Unity College. In a statement on September 17, the ministry clarified that the Federal Government would retain 100 per cent legal ownership and oversight of King's College, and that the concession arrangement would be subject to a review. Senate President Godswill Akpabio has also weighed in, arguing that the concession was necessary to address the college's infrastructural decay and to reposition it for better service delivery. He dismissed the opposition as the work of people who did not understand the concession concept, and vowed that the government would not be blackmailed into abandoning the plan.
The union's rejection of the ministry's announcement has created confusion in the Federal Unity Colleges, with students and parents uncertain about whether academic activities will resume. The Chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association of King's College, Lagos, Peter Oluwaleye, has warned that parents will resist any attempt to impose the concession. He described the plan as "barbaric and satanic" and questioned the capacity of the Old Boys Association to manage an institution of King's College's stature. The PTA has vowed to go to court if the Federal Government does not publicly address their concerns.
The dispute has significant implications for the 2027 general elections, which are now less than four months away. The education sector is a critical constituency, and the ASCSN's strike has the potential to disrupt the academic calendar and create further hardship for millions of Nigerian families. The union's decision to continue the strike despite the ministry's claim of suspension suggests that the government's efforts to resolve the dispute have failed. The ASCSN has accused the minister of engaging with unauthorised persons and failing to honour agreements, raising questions about the administration's commitment to constructive dialogue with labour unions.
The ASCSN has also expressed a loss of confidence in the minister's handling of the dispute, accusing him of engaging with people who were not authorised to represent the union. The coordinators have called on the national leadership of ASCSN to issue a clear directive reinforcing the industrial action. The union's resolve appears unshaken, and the government's options are narrowing. The dispute could be resolved through genuine engagement with the union's demands, or it could escalate into a protracted standoff that disrupts the education of thousands of students across the country. For now, the gates of the Federal Unity Colleges remain closed, the classrooms empty, and the standoff between the ASCSN and the Federal Ministry of Education as intractable as ever.
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